Vending machine and electrical control circuit therefor



Sept. l2, 1967 1. E. HOWARD, JR

|NVENT0R James E. Howard ,Jr BY ATTORNEY Filed July 20, 1966 VENDINGMACHINE AND ELECTRICAL CONTROL CIRCUIT THEREFOR United States PatentOiice '3,340,979 Patented Sept. 12, 1967 3,340,979 VENDING MACHiNE ANDELECTRlCAL CONTROL CIRCUIT THEREFOR James E. Howard, Jr., Feeding Hills,Mass., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pa., acorporation of Pennsylvania Filed July 20, 1%6, Ser. No. 566,639 4Claims. (Cl. 194-10) The present invention relates to vending machinesand more particularly to an electrical control circuit for electricallyoperated post-select vending machines.

U.S. Patent No. 3,209,946 to I. E. Kalista, issued Oct. 15, 1965, andassigned to the same assignee as the subject patent application,discloses a multi-choice electrically operated coin-controlled vendingmachine of the postselect type which is provided with an electricalcontrol circuit arranged to vend selected merchandise at a single givenprice. It is desirable to enable not only a choice of selection to bemade, but to provide for a`choice of selections at two different prices,depending on the selection chosen. The present invention is animprovement over the aforementioned patent to provide a multi-pricecontrol circuit therefor.

It is the principal object of the present invention to provide anelectrically operated multiple column vending machine with an improvedand simplified control circuit that will enable the machine to beoperated to vend a choice of articles at either a low or high price,depending upon the article chosen.

In accordance with the invention, a multiple column vending machine isprovided with individual article vending gates for each column and witha common operating mechanism that is electrically operated and adaptedto be selectively connected to a particular vending gate by anelectrically controlled solenoid during each vending operation. Thecontrol circuit of the present invention is arranged to initiate thevend cycle and energize a particular chosen solenoid when the requisitecoinage in the amount of a low or a high price, depending upon thearticle desired to be vended, is deposited, and the manually operatedselection switch button is depressed. A coin acceptor switch of anyknown type having one set of normally open contacts to be closed uponreceipt of coinage in the amount of a low price and a second set ofnormally open contacts to be closed upon receipt of coinage in theamount of the high price is provided. Manual selector switches forcontrolling the solenoids for both high and low price article columnsare provided and the circuits of both the low and high price switchesare connected in series with each other and to the low price acceptorswitch contacts while the high price selector switch circuits areconnected in series with each other only and to the high price acceptorswitch contacts. However, the respective circuits for energizing therespective solenoids for a low price article gate mechanism are throughthe selector switches in series with the low price acceptor switchcontacts only, while the respective circuits for energizing therespective solenoids for a high price article gate mechanism are throughthe high price selector switches'in series with the high price acceptorswitch contacts only. Thus, only one selector switch is effective toenergize a respective solenoid provided that the respective low or highprice acceptor switch contacts are closed upon receipt of the coinage ofthe requisite low or high price, depending upon the price of articlessought to be vended. As will later be mentioned in detail, suitableholding circuits and cycle switch contacts are provided to maintain theselection solenoid energized during most of the vend cycle, to completethe vend cycle, and to reset the coin acceptor switch contacts to theirnormal open positions before the initiation of a subsequent vend cycle.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of a respectiveholding circuit relay for each solenoid to be energized each time therespective selection solenoid is energized and when energized tomaintain the selected solenoid energized through the major portion ofthe vend cycle. The holding contacts of each holding circuit relay areconnected in series holding circuits with each other such that only oneselected solenoid and associated holding relay may remain energizedduring the vend cycle. The holding circuits are extended through cycleswitch contacts so that the holding circuit for any then energizedsolenoid and relay is broken just before the end of a vend cycle whilethe electric dispensing motor is continued to be energized to the end ofthe vend cycle by then operated cycle switch contacts.

Yet another feature of the invention is the circuit provision to resetthe coin acceptor switch contacts upon the energization of respectiveholding circuit relays. Those holding circuit relays associated with lowprice selection solenoids are provided with contacts wired in circuitwith the reset solenoid for the low price acceptor switch contacts whilethose holding circuit relays associated with high price selectionsolenoids are provided with contacts connected in circuit with the resetsolenoid for the high price acceptor switch contacts in a manner toreset the corresponding acceptor switch contacts each time a vend cycleis initiated.

Further objects, features, and the advantages of the invention will beapparent with reference to the following specification and drawing, inwhich:

FIGURE 1 is a circuit diagram, and

FIG. 2 .is a fragmentary schematic illustration of a multiple columnmultiple choice, multi-price vending machine embodying the controlcircuit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing, the mechanical details of the vending machinewill not be described except generally in reference to the fragmentaryand diagrammatic illustration of FIG. 2. If mechanical details of avending machine to which the control circuit of the invention may beused are required, reference may be made to U.S. Patent No. 3,118,567,granted Jan. 1, 1964, to Meigs W. Newberry and `assigned to the assigneeof the present application. For purposes of understanding thefunctioning of the control circuit of the invention, it should beunderstood that the vending machine is comprised of a cabinet 10 havinga plurality of article storage columns 11, 12, 13 and 14 from whicharticles may ibe vended during a |vendi cycle. For example, columns 11and 12 may contain `articles intended to be vended at a high price whilecolumns 13 and 14 may be a-rranged to contain articles to be vended at alow price. The common operating member or bar 15 is arranged to bereciprocated vertically during each vend cycle by the operation of anelectric motor 16, cam and lever linkage 17 and 18 and a vend cycleswitch 19. The arrangement is such that one revolution of the shaft 20driven by the electrical vend motor 16 iseffective to reciprocate thecommon operating bar 15 upwardly and then downwardly once for each vendcycle. The respective gate mechanisms operating lifter plates for eacharticle storage column 11-14 are shown diagrammatically at 21- 24. Asdescribed'in detail in the aforementioned patent to Newberry, whenever arespective lifter plate `2124 is reciprocated upward and downward duringa vend cycle, the gate mechanism (not shown) will be effective todispense a single article from the associated article storage column.For example, when the lifter plate 21 is reciprocated vertically, anarticle will be dispensed lfrom the article storage column 11. Thecommon operating member or bar 1S is provided with a plurality ofrespective solenoids 31-34 arranged to provide a driving connection fromthe common operating bar to an associated lifter plate when acorresponding selection solenoid is energized. For example, if theselection solenoid 31 is energized, lifter plate 21 will be providedwith a driving connection to lbe lifted to vend an article lfrom aselected one of the article storage columns 11-14.

p Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a more detailed descriptionof the control circuit of the invention will lbe made. Electrical powerconductors are shown at 40 and 41 and it will be seen that one terminalof the electric motor 16 is connected to the power conductor 41 and itsother terminal is adapted to be connected to the power conductor 40 attimes during the vend cycle. A coin acceptor switch is shown in dottedblock outline at 42 and is provided with normally open low pricecontacts 43 and normally open high price contacts 44. The acceptorswitch contacts 43 and 44 are of the latching type and are operatedwhenever the requisite coinage is deposited in such manner that, forexample, the deposit of ten cents in coin would cause contacts 43 to beclosed while the deposit of fteen cents in coinage would cause acceptorswitch contacts 44 to be closed. Separate coin accepting slots for highand low price vending could be provided as is obvious to those skilledin the art. Resetting solenoids 45 and 46 are provided inthe coinacceptor to reopen any then closed coin contacts 43 or 44 whenever the-respective reset solenoid 45, 46 is energized during a vend cycle andbefore a subsequent vend cycle is initiated. The details of the coinacceptor switch 42 are not shown and they may take various forms as maybe supplied iby various manufacturing suppliers who are well known inthe art. For example, a suitable coin acceptor switch arrangement havingthe functions described yfor the switch shown by the dotted blockoutline 42 is available from the National Rejectors Corporation in St.Louis, Mo.

The respective selection solenoids 31-34 are provided with one of theircoil terminals connected through conductor 47 to the power conductor 41.The other terminal of each selector solenoid such as the solenoid 31 isadapted to -be connected through the associated selector switch and coinacceptor contacts to the power conductor 40. For example, solenoid 31 isadapted to lbe connected through normally closed empty switch contacts51 and operated contacts `61 of the manual selector switch pushbutton6i) and through a series circuit of normal closed contacts 72 of themanual pushbutton selector switch 70 and through the normally closedcontacts 101 of the cutoi relay 100 to the high price acceptor switchcontacts 44 and to the other power c-onductor 40. Similarly, the otherterminal of the high price selection solenoid 32 is adapted to beconnected through the normally closed empty switch contacts 52 and theoperated contacts 71 of the manual pushbutton switch "70 through thenormally closed cutoff relay contacts 101 and the high price accept-orswitch contacts 44 to the power conductor 40. Thus, both high priceselection relays 31 and 32 may be energized through series circuits ofthe series connected manual selector switches 604 and 70 and the highprice acceptor switch contacts 44.

The other coil terminal of the low price selection solenoid 33 isadapted tc be connected through normally closed empty switch contacts 53and operated contac 81 of the selection switch 80 and through normallyclosed series contacts 73 and 63 of pushbutton switches 60 and '7 0through normally closed cuto relay contacts 102 and to the low priceacceptor switch contacts 43 and to the power conductor 40. Similarly,the other coil terminal for the low price `selector solenoid 34 isadapted to be connected through empty switch contacts 54 and operatedcontacts 91 of the pushbutton selector switch 90 in series with thenormal contacts 82 of the pushbutton switch 80 and normal contacts '73and 63 of the pushbutton switches 70 and et?. This energizing circuitfor the selection solenoid 34 is adapted to be further extended throughnormally closed cutoff relay contacts 102 and the low price acceptorswitch contacts 43 to the power conductor 40. Thus, it will be seen thatthe manual pushbutton switches 60, 70, and are wired in seriesenergizing circuits such that the low price selection switches S0 and 9)are wired in series with the lhigh price selector circuit switches 60and 70 to the low price acceptor switch contacts 43 while the energizingcircuits orf the high price selector switches 60 and 70 are `wired inseries with each other and to the high price acceptor switch contacts44. Thus, if a customer has deposited coinage or" a low price effectiveto close only the acceptor switch contacts 43, the operation ofpushbuttons 60 and 7 d will not be effective to energize theircorresponding related high price selection solenoid 31 or 32, and at thesame time it will be impossible to `operate either of pushbuttonswitches 80 and 90. However, if either pushbutton 80 or 90 is operatedsingly while the low price acceptor switch contacts 43 are closed, theassociated solenoid 33 or 34 will be energized. Correspondingly, ifcoinage in the amount of the high price is deposited so that acceptorswitch high price contacts 44 are closed, the operation of eitherpushbutton 60 or 7 0 by itself will be effective to energize thecorresponding high price selection solenoid 31 or 32 althoughsimultaneous operation of more than one pushbutton, either high or lowprice, would be ineffective to energize any of the selection solenoids31-34. Also, the operation of either pushbutton 80 or 90 under theconditions of only the acceptor switch contacts 44 being closed would beineiective to energize either of the associated solenoids 33 or 34.

The previously described arrangement of selector switch circuits for thepushbutton switches 60, 70, 80 and 90, together wit-h the coin acceptorswitches 43 and 44, enables a selected one of the selection solenoids31-34 to be momentarily energized, provided that the requisite coinagehas Ibeen deposited in the coin acceptor switch. In order to maintainthe selected solenoid in the energized condition during the vend cyclethus initiated, a correspondin-g one of holding switch relays -14()l isenergized simultaneously with the momentary energization of therespective associated selection solenoids 31-34. Each holding circuitrelay 110, 120, and 140 is provided with associated holding switchcontacts 111, 121, 131 and 141 which are connected in series relationwith other contacts of said relays such that only one holding circuitrelay 110, 120, 130 or 144B may be energized at a time. For example, theholding circuit for relay may lbe traced through its holding circuitcontacts 141 and the normally closed contacts 132, 122 and 112 throughany one of the normally closed empty switch contacts 55-58 and thenormally closed cycle switch contacts to the power conductor 40.Similarly, the holding circuit for holding circuit relay 130 may betraced through its operated contacts 131 and the normally closed seriescontacts 122 and 112 of holding circuit relays 120 and 110 to thepreviously mentioned empty switch contacts l55-58 `and the cycle switchcontacts 150. Similarly, the holding circuit for relay 120 may be tracedthrough its operated contacts 121 and the normally closed seriescontacts 112 of -holding circuit relay 110. The holding circuit forholding circuit relay 110 may be traced through its operated contacts111 to the empty switch contacts 55-58 `and the cycle switch contacts150. Thus, it is apparent that only one of the holding circuit relays1111, 120, 130 or 140 may be energized during a particular vend cycle.

The operation of any one of the `holding circuit relays 110, 120, 136 or140 is also effective to energize the vend motor 16 through any one ofthe operated contacts 113, 123, 133 or 143 and at the same time thecutoff relay 160 is energized to open the contacts 101 and 102 and openany energizing circuits for the manual pushbutton switches 60, 70, `80or 90. As the vend motor 1'6 runs during the vend cycle, the cycleswitch cam 19 is eifective towards the end of the Vend cycle to move thecycle switch 150 tfrom the normal closed position shown to the operatedposition which-opens the holding circuits for any then operated holdingcircuit relays 110, 120, 130 or 140 and the associated selectionsolenoid 31-34. When the cam 19 moves the cycle switch 150 from thenorm-al position shown to the operated position, the motor continues tobe energized through operated holding switch motor contact 151. Attheend of the vend cycle the holding switch 150 is again restored to thenormal position shown and the circuit to the motor through motor contact151 is opened and the motor is deenergized.

In the foregoing, there has been described the circuits for operating aselected one only of the selection solenoids 31-34 provided that therequisite coinage has ibeen deposited to close either the low price coinswitch 43 for the lo-w price selection solenoids 33 and 34 or the highprice acceptor switch contacts 44 for the high price selection solenoids31 and 32. At the time that the associated holding relay 110, 12.0, 130or 140 is energized simultaneously with its corresponding selectionsolenoid 31-34, circuits are completed to energize the respectiveacceptor switch reset solenoids 45 or 46 for the associated acceptorswitch contacts 43 or 44. For example, if a ten-cent article has -beenordered and coinage has been deposited to close the coin acceptor switchcontacts 43, the su'bsequent operation of either solenoid 33, 34 andsimultaneous operation of either holding circuit relays 13D or 140 willclose either contacts 134 or 144 to complete an obvious energizingcircuit to the reset solenoid 45 of the low price coin switch contacts43, causing those contacts to be restored to their normally opencondition before the initiation of a subsequent vend cycle. On the otherhand, if coinage in the amount of a high price such as a fifteen-centselection has 'been deposited to cause coin acceptor switch contacts 44to be closed, then the operation of either selection solenoids 31 and 32and the simultaneous energization of their respective holding circuitrelays 110 and 120 will be eiTective to close either contacts 114 or 124to energize the high price reset solenoid 46 through the obviouscircuits, thus resetting to the open condition the acceptor switchcontacts 44 before the initiation of a subsequent vend cycle.

Various modifications may be made within the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A vending machine comprising a plurality of dispensing mechanisms;

a common operating mechanism for said dispensing mechanisms adapted tobe operated during each vend cycle;

a respective solenoid for each dispensing mechanism, a drivingconnection adapted to connect said common operating mechanism to aselected dispensing mechanism in response to the energization of eachsaid solenoid during a vend cycle;

a rst power supply conductor, a second power supply conductor;

a plurality of selector switches including a first group of switchesadapted to control the selection of articles to be vended at a low priceand a second group of switches adapted to control the selection ofarticles to be vended at a high price and each selector switch adaptedto control a respective one each of said solenoids;

a coin acceptor switch having a tirst set of contacts to be closed uponreceipt of coins in the amount of the low price and second set ofcontacts to be closed upon receipt of coins in the amount of the highprice;

means providing a first circuit extending through the first and secondgroup of selector switches in series and through the rst set of acceptorswitch contacts when closed upon receipt of coins in the amount of thelow price to said first power supply conductor, means providing a secondcircuit extending through the second group of selector switches inseries and through the second set of acceptor switch contacts whenclosed upon receipt of coins in the am-ount of the high price to saidrst power supply conductor; each selector switch in the irst group ofselector switches being operable, when manually actuated, to connect -asolenoid controlled thereby from said second power supply conductor tosaid first power supply conductor through said rst circuit and saidacceptor switch low price contacts, and to open the first circuit to theselector switches later in the series of the first group of selectorswitches and, when in nonactuated condition, to open the first circuitto the solenoid controlled thereby, and to continue the first circuit tothe selector switches later in the series of the first group of selectorswitches,

each selector switch in the second group of selector switches beingoperable, when manually actuated, to connect a solenoid controlledthereby from said second power supply conductor to said iirst powersupply conductor through said second circuit and said acceptor switchhigh price contacts, and to open both said irst and second circuits tothe selector switches later in the series of both said iirst and secondgroups of switches and, when in non-actuated condition, to open thesecond circuit to the solenoid controlled thereby, and to continue thesecond circuit to the selector switches later in the series of thesecond group of selector switches and to continue the iirst circuit tothe selector switches later in the series of said iirst and secondgroups of selector switches;

a Vend cycle switch having normally closed vend cycle contacts connectedto said lirst power supply conductor and adapted to be open near the endof each vending cycle;

and a plurality of holding circuit relays each connected in parallelwith a respective one of said solenoids to be energized uponenergization of the respective solenoid and having contacts connected ina series holding circuit adapted to be connected through the normallyclosed contacts of said vend cycle contacts to said iirst powerconductor, each holding relay when energized adapted to extend theseries holding circuit to maintain the respective solenoid energizedduring the vend cycle and to open the holding circuit extending lthroughthe holding relays later in the holding circuit series, the holdingcircuit for the respective solenoid being broken upon the opening ofthevend cycle switch contacts near the end of each vending cycle.

2. The vending machine of claim 1 in which there is further provided:

an electric motor adapted to operate said common operating mechanismduring each Vend cycle;

circuit means connected between said first and second power conductorsand including contacts of each of said holding relays together with thenormally closed cycle switch contacts and connected to energize saidmotor whenever a respective holding relay is energized while thenormally closed contacts of said cycle switch are closed;

means connecting said cycle switch for operation by said motor to opensaid normally closed contacts near the end of each Vend cycle anddeenergize any energized one of said solenoids and holding relays;

said cycle switch having motor contacts to be closed when said normallyclosed cycle switch contacts are opened near the end of each vend cycle;and

a circuit extending from said first and second power conductors throughsaid motor contacts to maintain the energization of said motor to theend of the vend cycle whereupon the operation of the cycle switchrecloses itsnormally closed contacts and opens its motor contacts todeenergize the motor at the end of the vend cycle.

3. The vending machine of claim Z in which there is provided:

rst electrical means for resetting the coin acceptor low price switchcontacts to their open position, and second electrical means forresetting the coin acceptor high price switch contacts to their openposition;

each of said holding relays connected in parallel with a respectivesolenoid controlled by a selector switch in the rst group of selectorswitches having contacts to be closed upon energization ofthe respectingholding relay to extend a circuit to energize the rst electricalresetting means, and each of said holding relays connected in parallelwith a respective solenoid controlled by a selector switch in the secondgroup of selector switches having contacts to be closed uponenergization of the respective holding relay to extend a circuit toenergize the second electrical resetting means.

4. The invention of claim 1 in which there is provided:

iirst electrical means for resetting the coin acceptor low price switchcontacts to their open position, and

Vo o

second electrical means for resetting the coin acceptor high priceswitch contacts to their open position;

each of said holding relays connected in parallel with a respectivesolenoid controlled by a selector switch in the first group of selectorswitches having contacts to be closed upon energization of the'respective holding relay to extend a circuit to energize the firstelectrical resetting means, and each of said holding relays connected inparallel with a respective solenoid controlled by a selector switch inthe second group of selector switches having contacts to be closed uponenergization of the respective holding relay to extend a circuit toenergize the second electrical resetting means.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,679,917 6/1954 Andres 194-103,193,138 7/l965 Cox et al. 221-129 X 3,209,946 10/ 1965 Kalista221--125 3,227,307 1/1965 Auerbach et al. 221-129 X 3,232,400 2/1966Hendrickson 221-129 X 3,278,079 l0/l966 Guard 221-125 SAMUEL F. COLEMAN,Primary Examiner.

1. A VENDING MACHINE COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF DISPENSING MECHANISMS; ACOMMON OPERATING MECHANISM FOR SAID DISPENSING MECHANISMS ADAPTED TO BEOPERATED DURING EACH VEND CYCLE; A RESPECTIVE SOLENOID FOR EACHDISPENSING MECHANISM, A DRIVING CONNECTION ADAPTED TO CONNECT SAIDCOMMON OPERATING MECHANISM TO A SELECTED DISPENSING MECHANISM INRESPONSE TO THE ENERGIZATION OF EACH SAID SOLENOID DURING A VEND CYCLE;A FIRST POWER SUPPLY CONDUCTOR, A SECOND POWER SUPPLY CONDUCTOR; APLURALITY OF SELECTOR SWITCHES INCLUDING A FIRST GROUP OF SWITCHESADAPTED TO CONTROL THE SELECTION OF ARTICLES TO BE VENDED AT A LOW PRICEAND A SECOND GROUP OF SWITCHES ADAPTED TO CONTROL THE SELECTION OFARTICLES TO BE VENDED AT A HIGH PRICE AND EACH SELECTOR SWITCH ADAPTEDTO CONTROL A RESPECTIVE ONE EACH OF SAID SOLENOIDS; A COIN ACCEPTORSWITCH HAVING A FIRST SET OF CONTACTS TO BE CLOSED UPON RECEIPT OF COINSIN THE AMOUNT OF THE LOW PRICE AND SECOND SET OF CONTACTS TO BE CLOSEDUPON RECEIPT OF COINS IN THE AMOUNT OF THE HIGH PRICE; MEANS PROVIDING AFIRST CIRCUIT EXTENDING THROUGH THE FIRST AND SECOND GROUP OF SELECTORSWITCHES IN SERIES AND THROUGH THE FIRST SET OF ACCEPTOR SWITCH CONTACTSWHEN CLOSED UPON RECEIPT OF COINS IN THE AMOUNT OF THE LOW PRICE TO SAIDFIRST POWER SUPPLY CONDUCTOR, MEANS PROVIDING A SECOND CIRCUIT EXTENDINGTHROUGH THE SECOND GROUP OF SELECTOR CIRCUIT EXTENDING THROUGH THROUGHTHE SECOND SET OF ACCEPTOR SWITCH CONTACTS WHEN CLOSED UPON RECEIPT OFCOINS IN THE AMOUNT OF THE HIGH PRICE TO SAID FIRST POWER SUPPLYCONDUCTOR; EACH SELECTOR SWITCH IN THE FIRST GROUP OF SELECTOR SWITCHESBEING OPERABLE, WHEN MANUALLY ACTUATED, TO CONNECT A SOLENOID CONTROLLEDTHEREBY FROM SAID SECOND POWER SUPPLY CONDUCTOR TO SAID FIRST POWERSUPPLY CONDUCTOR THROUGH SAID FIRST CIRCUIT AND SAID ACCEPTOR SWITCH LOWPRICE CONTACTS, AND TO OPEN THE FIRST CIRCUIT TO THE SELECTOR SWITCHESLATER IN THE SERIES OF THE FIRST GROUP OF SELECTOR SWITCHES AND, WHEN INNONACTUATED CONDITION, TO OPEN THE FIRST CIRCUIT TO THE SOLENOIDCONTROLLED THEREBY, AND TO CONTINUE THE FIRST CIRCUIT TO THE SELECTORSWITCHES LATER IN THE SERIES OF THE FIRST GROUP OF SELECTOR SWITCHES,